Renee Hogan was arrested Sunday after she was stopped east of San Andreas in Calaveras County. The fire spread to dry grass and woodland, and consumed 450 acres by Sunday afternoon.
Advertisement
Officials also announced Sunday they believe a vehicle driven on Mountain Ranch Road sparked several fires that developed into the big Willow blaze.
The sparks emitted during Hogan’s drive set off several fires that burned more than 450 acres of vegetation, with about 300 firefighters battling the flames, Cal Fire said.
In addition to the DUI charge, Hogan faces one count of unlawfully causing a fire which causes an inhabited structure to burn; seven counts of unlawfully causing a fire of a structure or forestland; and one count of unlawfully causing a fire during a declared state of emergency.
Thankfully it doesn’t seem to have been as devastating as the Butte fire that hit the area previous year, which killed two people and burned hundreds of homes-the Willow fire seems to have damaged one home, but with no injuries or deaths reported. A witness behind Hogan attempted to gain her attention however she would not stop her vehicle.
According to Butzler, Hogan is homeless, believed to have been living inside that vehicle.
Cal-Fire investigators conducted their own investigation and added additional charges related to the fire.
Resident Meredith Brooks told CBS Sacramento that the fire started after she heard a loud screech on her street.
Another driver on the highway saw her auto burning and tried to alert her, but she didn’t respond, authorities said.
Advertisement
‘It’s not too late to do your defensible space around your home, if you haven’t done it yet, get out and do it, ‘ Longmore said.
